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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. D. STROHM.

ELEGTRIG ELEVATOR.

No. 579,024. Patented Mar. 16,1897.

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(Np Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. D. STROHM.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

No. 579,024.- Patented Mar. 16, 1897.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

s. 1). STROHM. ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

N0. 579,024. Patented Mar. 16, 1897.

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FFICEQ SAMUEL D. STROIIM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE STROIIM ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVICE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTREG ELEVATQR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent BIG. 579,024, dated March 16, 1897.

Application filed April 4, 1896. Serial No. 586,215. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. STROHM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Elevators, (Case E;) and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to various new and useful improvements in electric elevators; and the main object of the invention is to so construct an elevator operated by an electric motor or motors as to improve and render more perfect the means for controlling said motor or motors, and to further provide an improved safety device to be used in connection with said elevator whereby absolute safety in operation of the elevator will be assured.

In order that my invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein I illustrate two ways of carrying into effect the general principles of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a convenient form of apparatus wherein the rheostat and controlling-switches are operated by the controlling-rope from the elevator-ear; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the rheostat and controllirig-switches carried on the car; Fig. 3, a similar view of the preferred arrangement of circuit breaking switch for the motor-circuits or elsewhere; Fig. 4, a rear elevation, partly in section, of a convenient form of circuit-breaking device adapted to be operated by the latches of the landing-doors; Fig. 5, a sectional view of the same; and Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 4, except that the contact-plate is out of contact with the contact-springs, so as to break the circuit.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by the same figures of reference.

Having reference to Fig. 1, the motor 3 operates the car 1 through the rope or cable 2, said motor in this instance being located at the bottom of the elevator-shaft.

11 represents a coutrollingswitch or rheostat for the motor, located adjacent thereto and having a switch-arm 12, adapted to be moved up and down by a controlling-rope 13. Said switch-arm is preferably divided into three parts 1st, 15, and 16, mechanically connected together, but electrically insulated from each other, as shown.

17 is a series of contact-plates connected together by resistance-coils 18 and mounted above the switch-arm 12, and 1.) is a corresponding series of contact-plates connected together by resistance 20 beneath said switcharm. The extreme plates 17 and 19 of these two series are connected by wires 21 and 22 to one of the mains 23 of the electric-light circuit of the building or to any other source of supply.

2; is a contact-plate above the portion 15 of the switch-arm, and 25 is a corresponding contact-plate below the same, said contactplates being in advance of the pivotal point of said switch-arm. Behind the pivotal point of said switch-arm are two contact-plates 26 and 27 above the same and two plates 28 and 29 below the same. The plates 26 and 28 are connected by wires 30, 31, and 32 with the other main 33 of the electric-light circuit of the building or other source of supply.

3t is a wire connected between the plates 25 and 29 with one of the brushes 35 of the motor 36 is a wire connecting the other brush of said motor with a contactplate 37. Opposite the latter contact-plate is a corresponding plate 38, and adapted to make contact with said contact-plates is a switch-arm 39, carried on the core of a solenoid -tl or 011 the armature of a corresponding magnet. hen the core a1 is attracted by said solenoid $0, the switchnan 39 will be elevated so asto complete the circuit between the plates 37 and 38; but when said solenoid is deenergized a spring t2 forces the switch-arm 39 into contact with two contact-plates 4-3 and ett, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

is a wire connecting the contact-plate 38 with a contactplate t6, and 4:7 is a corresponding contact-plate opposite to the latter contact-plate 4E6.

a8 is a switch-arm carried on the core 49 of a solenoid and adapted when said solenoid is deenergized to be forced by means of the spring 51 into contact with the plates l6 and 47, so as to make contactbetween said plates. hen said solenoid 50 is energized, the said switch-arm 48 is moved into contact with the two contact-plates 52 5n, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

54: is a wire connecting the plates 21- and 27 together, and 55 is a wire connecting both of said plates with the contact-piece a7.

50 is a wire connecting; the extreme upper plate 17 of the series of contact-plates above the switch-arm 12 with the plate 53, and 57 is a wire connecting contact-plate 52 with the plate at. The other contact-plate is conneeted by a wire 58 with a very powerful solenoid 59, which is connected by a wire (50 with the supplymain The core 61 of the solenoid 59 connects with a lever (52, carrying a brake-shoe (32-3 or analogous element at its free end and adapted to be drawn into contact. with a face-wheel 6 1, carried on the motor-shaft, so as to brake the same.

65 is a wire connecting the end of the wire 22 with a contact-plate 66, and (57 is another contact -plate opposite the same and with which a switch-arm 08 is adapted to make contact. Said switch-arm is carried on the end of the core ('39 of the solenoid 70, which is normally deenergized, and 71 is a spring for forcing said switch-arm in contact with said contact-plates when the circuit to said solenoid is broken.

72 is a wire connee ting the plate 67 with the field 7-3 of the motor 3, the other side of said field being connected by a wire 7. c with the supply-main 323.

75 75 are circuit breakers or closers carried on the various landings of the building and adapted to be operated when the several landing-doors are either closed or are actually fastened, said devices beingof any suitable construction, such, for example, as I have shown in applications for Letters Patent filed on even date herewith and will hereinafter describe. These circuit closers orbreakers are included in a circuit 76 with a battery or other source of supply 77 and the solenoid 11, so that when all of the circuit closers or breakers are in such condition as indicates that all the landing-doors are closed or fastened the said solenoid or magnet will be energized or deenergized, according to the circuit being a closed or open circuit, to thereby complete the circuit through the brake solenoid 55) or through the motor-armature, as will be explained.

7 8 represents a circuit closer or breaker carried on the elevator-car and operated by the closing or fastening of the elevator-door, said circuit closer or breaker being included in the circuit 79 with the battery 00 or other source of supply and the solenoid or magnet 50.

In the present instance I have shown the circuit 76 as being a normally closed circuit and the circuit 79 as being a normally open circuit, the parts therefore, being in the position shown, indicating that the circuit 76 is broken and that therefore one or more of the landing-doors is either open or not properly secured and that the circuit 79 is closed, so as to indicate that the elevator-door is in a similar condition. The parts being in these positions, therefore, the elevator is presumed to be at rest, it being noted that the switch-arm 12 occupies a horizontal position and being out of contact with all of the various contactplates. Current therefore passes from the main 23 by wires 21 and 5t to contact-plate 53, through switch-arm 18 to contact-plate 52, through wire 57 to contact-plate ll, through switch-arm 39 to contact-plate -13, through wire 58, through solenoid 59, and through wire 00 to the main 33. In this condition, therefore, the solenoid 59 will be energized, attracting the core 61 and forcing the brake-shoe 02 into contact with the face-wheel o l, so as to brake the motor. In this condition it will also be impossible to start the motor, since the armature-circuit thereof is broken at the points 37 SS and .416 17. hen, however, all 01' the landing-doors are closed, so as to complete the circuit 76 and energize the solenoid 11, so as to attract the core 40, the switch-arm 39 will be elevated and will make contact with the plates 2-37 and $38. This movement, however, it will be noted, does not entirely complete the armature-circuit of the motor, because that circuit is still broken at the points l6 47. It is therefore necessary to close or to fasten the door of the elevator-car, which in this instance breaks the circuit- 7.l, deenergizes the solenoid or magnet 50, and allows the spring 51 to force the switch-arm 18 into contact with the CODttCt-PliliLGS -10 and 47. In this condition the motor can be operated as follows:

As stated, the solenoid 70 is in a normally open circuit, as S1, fed from the battery 80 or other source of supply, and having therein a switch 82, which may be located in the car, and by which said circuit may be closed to energize said solenoid 70. It is the intention, however, with the apparatus shown, to maintain the current constantly in the field of the motor, so that said circuit 81 is constantly opened to allow the spring 71 to keep the switch-arm 65 in contact with contact-plates 67 and Current thereby passes through the field of the motor from the main 23, through wires 22 and (35, contact-plate (J6, switch-arm (38, contact-plate 67, wire 72, motor-field 73, and wire 71 to the other main 3;}.

If, for example, it is desired to run the elevator down, the operating-rope 13 is elevated, bringing the portion 15 of the switch-arm into contact with the plate 21 and the lower plate 17 of the series and bringing the portion 11- of said switch-arminto contact with the plates 28 and 20. Current therefore passes through the armature of the motor from the main. 23, wire 21, to the first plate 17, resistance 18, to

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the second plate 17, second resistance 18, to the third plate 17, to the portion 15 of the switch-arm, to the plate 24, wire 51, plate 47, switch-arm 48, plate 16, wire 15, plate 38, switch-arm 39, plate 37, wire 36, through the armature of the motor, wire 3 1, to plate 20, through the portion 1 1 of the switclrarm, to plate 28, wires 31 and 32-, to theother main 3?) of the circuit. As said controlling-rope 13 is elevated to a greater extent the resistances 18 are cut out of the armattire-circuit, an d the speed of the motor is thereby accelerated. By moving said controlling-rope in the opposite direction the position of the switch-arm 12 will be reversed, so that the current will be passed through the armature of the motor in the opposite direction, as will be understood,the direction of rotation being reversed.

Having reference to Fig. 2, I illustrate mechanism whereby the controlling-switch for the elevator may be carried on the car instead of being located at the bottom of the elevatorshaft, as explained, and wherein some different features from those above described are introduced. In this form of apparatus the motor 8 controls the elevator-car in the ordinary way. Mounted on the car is a reversing-switch and rheostat 83. \Vhile the elements of this switch correspond closely to the corresponding elements of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of clearness I will designate them by individual numerals.

8-1 represents a switch-arm made, as be fore, of three sections insulated from each other, the upper section having a handle to be grasped by the operator. This switch arm makes contact at each side with a series of contact-plates 80, the plates of which series are connected together by suitable re sistances S7, and the outer plates of both series being connected together by a wire 88. Said wire 88 connects by a wire 80 with a contact-plate 90. 91 is another contact-plate opposite the same, which connects by wires 02 and 93 with one of the supply-mains of the electric-light supply of the building or other source of electric supply.

95 is a switch-arm adapted to make contact between the plates 00 and 01, said switch-arm being carried onthe end of the core 00 of the solenoid 07. 98 is a spring forcing said switcharm 95 out of contact with said contact-plates 90 and 91 into contact with contact-plates 08 and 99 when said solenoid 9 7 is deenergized or is energized, according to the character of circuit with which it is used, whether open or closed.

Beneath the contact-plates 86 are plates 100 and 101, adapted to be engaged by the upper section of the switch-arm 84-, and on the other side of the pivotal point of each switch-arm at the right and left thereof are plates 102, 103, 104, and 105. The plates 103 and 105 are connected by a wire 100 to the other side 107 of the source of supply. The plates 101 and 102 are connected by a wire 108 with one brush 100 of the motor 3, and the plates 100 and 101 are connected by a wire 110 with the other brush 111 of said motor.

112 is a brake-solenoid carried adjacent to the motor and connected by a wire 113 with the wire 03 and by a wire 11% with the contact-plate 90. The contact-plate 98 connects by means of the wire 115 with the wire 100.

The core 110 of the solenoid 112 connects with a lever 117, pivoted at 118 to a suitable framework, and the free end of said lever works upon the end of the brake-lever 119, which carries a brake-shoe 120, said brakeshoe engaging with a face-wheel121, carried on the motor-shaft.

122 122 are circuit closers or breakers on the several landings of the building, adapted to be opened or closed, according to the character ot' the circuit, by the closing or by the fastening of the several landing-doors. Said contact closers or breakers are included in the circuit 123 with a battery or other source of supply 121 and the solenoid 07. In the present instance the circuit 123 is normally closed, so as to energize said solenoid 97, attracting its core 00 and bringing the switcharm 95 into contact with the contact J0 and 91. In Fig. i said circuit 123 is shown as being broken, indicating thereby that one or more of the landing-doors is either opened or unfastened.

125 is a switch carried in the elevator-car and included in a circuit 120, which shortcircuits the cireuitelosers or breakers 122, so that by closing said circuit the said circuit-breakers will be short-cireuited and the solenoid 07 will he constantly energized.

The parts being in the position illustrated in Fig. s indicate that one or more of the doors are opened or unfastened, audit will be noted that current will flow from the supply-main 0% directly through the brake-solenoid 112, wire 111, contact 90, switch-arm 95, contactplate 08, wire 115, to the other side 107 of the supply-circuit, thereby attracting core 110, operating lever 11?, and forcing the brakeshoe 120 into contact with the brake-wheel 121, so as to brake the motor. At the same time it will be noted that it will be impossible to start the motor, for the reason that the circuit through the armature thereof is broken at the points 90 and 01. When, however, the circuit 123 is closed, indicating that all the landing-doors are secured, or when the cireuit120 is closed so as to short-circuit the former, the solenoid 07 will be energized, attracting the core 00 and bringing the switcharm 05 into contact with the contact-plates 90 and 01. If new the controlling-lever Si is moved to one side or the otherfor instance, to the rightcurrent to the armature of the motor traverses the same as follows: from the supply-main 01, wires 03 02, contact-plate 91, switch-arm 05, contact-plate 00, wires 89 and 88, through one of the series of contactplates 80 and resistances S7 to the upper plate of the switch-arm 81-, to plate 101, wire 10S, brush 109, motor-armature, brush 111,

wire 110, plate 104-, through the lower portion of the switch-arm, plate 103, and wire 106 to the other side 107 of the supply-circuit. It will therefore be seen that if the circuit 123 is closed, indicating that all of the landingdoors are closed and therefore in a safe condition, the motor is free to be controlled from the car by means of the operating-lever St.

In carrying out my invention in practice I prefer to use switches in the motor-circuit, which in this instance will be operated by the solenoids 11 and 50 and which should be of such a construction that the current to the motor will be introduced gradually thereto under all conditions, and I illustrate the particular form of switches in Figs. 3 and 1 solely for the purpose of clearncss.

It will be seen that if the switch-arm 12 is moved in either direction to its extreme limit and any one of the safety-circuits is broken, so as to break the motor-circuit, when said safety-circuit is again completed there will (in the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2) be no resistances in the motor-circuit, so that there will be danger of burning the motor out. This danger will also be appreciated when it is remembered that the operator is liable to operate the controlling-switch 12 before he has closed the elevator-door or landing-door, in which case the same danger arises when the *tfety-circuit is then completed. It is for this reason, therefore that I prefer to employ switches controlled in this instance by the solenoids 4:1 and 50, which will introduce the current gradually into the motor, and in Fig. 3 I illustrate diagrannnatically a switch embodying these ideas. Having reference to this figure, I illustrate a solenoid 41-1, which is horizontally arranged and wherein the core 42 connects with a switch-arm 127, mounted at 128, the upper portion of which is insulated at 129. 130 is a spring normally holding the switch 127 against a stop 131. 132 132 are contact-plates connected by resistances 133, and 134 is a contact-plate arranged beneath the plates 132. The wires 135 and 136 connect with the contact-plate 13-1 and with the end plate 133. \Vith this form of switch it will be seen that when the safety-circuit is closed, energizing the solenoid 4:1 and thereby attracting the core 42 thereof, the switch-arm 127 will be moved toward a stop 137 and in this movement will gradually cut out of the ll'lOllOY-CllOllllJ the several resistances 133, so that the current of the motor will be introduced gradually therein and thereby entirely prevent the possibility of the armature being burned out.

I11 Figs. 1, 5, and 6 I show a convenient form of circuit making and breaking device which may be used in this system, but to which I do not make a claim, as the same is covered in my concurrent application, filed April at, 1896, Serial No. 586,213. This making and breaking device will be briefly described.

138 is a heavy insulating-plate secured to the ironwork of the building, and 139 is the casing of the lock of a landing-door secured to said plate, so as to be effectively insulated from the ironwork of the building.

110 is a heavy insulating-block mounted within the casing 139 and carrying two contact-springs 11-1 11-1, to which the wires of the safety-circuit are connected in the usual way. 11-2 is a metal plate adapted to make contact with the springs 11-1, so as to close the safety circuit. The said plate is carried by the sleeve 143, which is fixed in the insulatingblock li-i. Said insulating-block is carried in a frame 11-5, having outturned ways 140, which engage with light guide-bars 1 17, so that said frame will be guided vertically.

In order to keep the contact-springs 11-1 normally out of contact with the plate lat-2, I make use of a spring 110, bearing beneath said plate and surrounding a guide-rod 1-13, which is embedded in the insulating-block 14-0 and works within the sleeve 113.

By means of a circuit closer and breaker of this character it will be seen that when the latch of a landing-doorenters the opening at the upper end of the casing 139 the weight thereof resting upon the frame M5 will move the contact-plate 1-1-2 downwardly, so as to complete the circuit between the springs 11-1, and that when said latch is removed the spring 149 will elevate the contact-plate 112, so as to break the circuit.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In an electric elevator, the combination of an elevator car or cage, an electric motorfor operating the same, a switch controlling the circuit to said motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating said switch, a safety-circuit including said solenoid or magnet, and a closer or breaker in said safety-circuit controlled by a door opening on the elevator-shaft, substantially as set forth.

In an electric elevator, the combination of an elevator car or cage, an electric motor for operating the same, a switch controlling the circuit of said motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating said switch, a safety-circuit including said solenoid or magnet, and a series of closers or breakers in said safety-circuit controlled by the landing-door, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric elevator, the combination of an elevator car or cage, an electric motor for operating the same, two switches controlling the circuit of said motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating each of said switches, a safetycircuit including one of said solenoids or magnets, a series of closers or breakers in said safety-circuit controlled by the landing-door, a safety-circuit including the other of said solenoids or magnets, and a closer or breaker in the latter circuit controlled by the car-door, substantially as set forth.

1. In an electric elevator, the combination of an elevator car or cage, an electric motor for operating the same, a switch controlling the circuit of said motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating said switch, a safety-circuit includ in g said solenoid or magnet, a closer or breaker in said safety-circuit controlled by a door opening on the elevator-shaft, and a brake for said motor, operated by said switch when the same is moved to break the m otor-circuit, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electric elevator, the combination of an elevator car or cage, an electric motor for operating the same, a switch controlling the motor to said circuit, a brake-shoe for said motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating said brake-shoe, a circuit for said solenoid or magnet also controlled by said switch when the latter is moved to break the motor-circuit, a solenoid or magnet 1" or operating said switch, a safety-circuit including said solen oid or magnet, and a closer or breaker in said safety device, controlled by a door opening on the elevator-shaft, substantially as set forth.

(5. In an electric elevator, the combination of an elevator car or cage, an electric motor for operating the same, two switches controlling the circuit to said. motor, a brake-shoe for said motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating said brake-shoe, a circuit for said solenoid or magnet controlled by said switches when the same are moved to break the motorcircuit, a solenoid or magnet for operating each of said switches, a safety-circuit including one of said solenoids or magnets, a series of closers or breakers in said safety-circuit controlled by the landing-door, a safety-cir cuit for the other of said solenoids or magnets, and a closer or breaker in the latter circuit controlled by a car-door, substantially as set forth.

'7. In an electric elevator, the combination of an elevator car or cage, an electric motor for operating the same, a switch controlling the armature-circuit to said motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating said switch, a safetycircuit including said solenoid or magnet, a closer or breaker in said safety-circuit controlled by a door opening on the elevatorshaft, a switch in the field-circuit of the motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating said switch, and a switch in the car for controlling said solenoid or magnet, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electric elevator, the combination of an elevator car or cage, an electric motor for operating the same, a switch controlling the circuit to said motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating said switch, a safety-circuit including said solenoid or magnet, and a closer or breaker in said safety-circuit controlled by the latch of a door opening upon the elevator-door, substantially as set forth.

9. In an electric elevator, the combination of an elevator car or cage, an electric motor for operating the same, a switch controlling the circuit to said motor, a solenoid or magnet for operating said switch, a safety-circuit including said solenoid or magnet, and a series of closers or breakers in said safety-circuit controlled by the latches of the landingdoors, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 18th day of March, 1896.

SAMUEL D. STROIIM. lVitnesses:

FRANK L. Dyan, S. DELLA MOGIRR. 

